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H. SCHMID AND G. FUEGEL.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED IULY I8, I917. 1,431,599, I Patented 0ct.10,1922.

I: anvewtp zs 4 HERMAN Ye/4mm. 22 :75 fornoa FL EGEL.

7/144. QJMZZ Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

UNITED s'ra'ras 1,431,599 PATENT oar-lea.

'W scam m GO'ITLOB roman, OI m 101:. MOI O18, I!

ma MGM", 'IO APOLLO Iaena'ro mYonx, L CORPORATION OI nmwau CONTROLLER I'Ol WAL-CODUSTIOI IIGIII.

application fled July 10, 1917. lei-ta! Io. 181,817.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Harman Scam and Go'rrnoa FtmoaL, who were formerly subjects of the German Empire. but who have severally renounced all allegiance to said power and declared our intentions of becoming citizens of the United States, and residents of Brookl n in the county of Kings and State 0 lIew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit Controllers for Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the followin is a specification.

Ve have invented an improved circuit controller for the ignition circuits of internal combustion engines; particularly -a circuit controller in the form of a timer or interrupter to be used in connection with, hi h tension ma netos.

he primary 0 ject of our invention is to provide an interrupter which can be operated at very high speeds, without sustaining jars or s ocks to any of its parts; and which at the same time can dispense with oil or other lubricant; whereby the interrupter will be especially adapted for employment upon automobiles and aeroplane engines which are to be rim at a very large number of revolutions per minute.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a circuit controller in which actuation is effected by a cam element of such shape that the member carrying the movable contact of the controller and the cam element can work properly and efiiciently together even at the highest speed of operation obtainable. By this construction smooth running is secured as well as oertainty of functioning; and, the likelihood of any of the parts moving, except as re-- quire to open and close the circuit, is entirely prevented.

Another object of. our invention is to design our'interrupter so that the parts thereof can be multiplied when necessar to make the interrupter suitable for engines having eight cylinders and over.

- Still further objects of our invention are to provide an interrupter which will be adapted for either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, which can be utilized either for magneto ignition exclusively or for magneto and battery ignition comblned, and which in general will be so constructed as to simple, inex nsive, capable of being eas ly cleaned, a justable to advance or retard ignition, and to suit the direction of the rotation cf the magneto with which the same 1s associated, and absolutely certain in practical operation.

The above and other objects andadvantages of our invention will appear from the fo lowing description, taken in connection w1th the accompanying drawin and be recis'ely define in the appemfe d claims.

e wish to have it understood, however, that the disclosure herein is explanatory onl and embodiments other than those actua ly illustrated may be made within the meaning of the terms in which the claims are expressed. In other words, differences in the phrasi of the claims are intended to cover modi cations in the details of our interrupter that we may wish to adopt, such modifications coming within the scope and s irit of our invention as the claims specify t e same.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an axial sectional view illustrating the manner in which our timer or interrupter is mounted upon the framework of a high tension magneto, adjacent one end of the armature;

Figure 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of parts of our interrupter showing how the operation is adjusted;

OOH-PORTION, 110., OI IIOOILYI,

F i ure 3 is a top plan of the parts shown ing an outline of the circuits in which the form of interrupter set forth in Figures 6 and 7 is inserted.

The same numerals identify the same parts on all the figures.

In the particular description of our interrupter we employ the numeral 1 to indicate the end of the shaft of an armature of a high tension magneto; said shaft having fixed to its extremity a rotatable plate 2 upon which is secured a member 3 bearing a ('unt'n'i' 1. his contact 4 is in the form of an adjustable screw; and it is arranged to cooperate with a contact 5 borne by a memher 6 which is likewise mounted on the plate 2. The member 3 and the contact 4 are stationary with respect to the plate 2; but the member 6 :and consequently the contact 5 carried thereby are mounted so as to be movable with respect to the plate 2; so that the contacts 4 and 5 can come together and separate, as required, to make or break the ignition circuit. In order to secure the member 6 to the plate 2 so that it can be actuated to carry the contact 5 away from the contact 4 and return the contact 5 against the contact 4:, we secure to the plate a block 7, to the ends of which are fastened springs 8. These springs 8 are shown as four in number, arranged in pairs; one pair being secured to one end of the block 7 and engaging the member .6 adjacent the contact 5, and the other pair being secured to the opposite end of the block 7 and engaging the member 6 adjacent its end remote from the contact 5; at which last-named end the member 6 will be provided with a small fiber body 9; which, when the plate 2 is rotating, may run upon the inside surface of an annular cam element 10 supported by a tubular part 11. The inside surface of the cam element 10 is provided with oppositely located actuating portions 12; and, when the fiber body 9 engages these actuating portions, the member 6 will be moved against the force of the springs 8 so as to separate the contact 5 from the contact 4. i

We indicate the extremities of the actuating portions 12 on the inner ed e of the cam element 10 by the oints 13 an 14; the former being applie to the advance end of each actuatin portion, and the latter to the rear end. I then, the direction of rotation be taken as clockwise in Figures 2 and 5-, the circuit will be broken as soon as the fiber body 9 arrives at the point 13. 7

At 15 on Figure 1 is shown a portion of the framework of a magneto; and fixed thereto is a so-called triangular piece 16, which fits over an o ening 17, which leads to the armature cham er. This triangle piece is centrally perforated to allow the adjacent extremity of the armature shaft 1 to pass therethrough; and the plate 2 will be located to the outside of this triangle piece. On the inner face of the triangle piece is an annular boss surrounding the central opening for the armature shaft 1; and this boss,

together with the portion of the inner face enclosed thereby will serve as a seat for the usual ball bearlng, which is applied to the armature shaft to enableit to run without friction. On the outer face of the triangle of the portions 12.

piece 15 is a circular flange 18, aroundwhich the part 11 fits; and in order to mountthe part 11 in operating osition, the same need only be slipped over t e flange 18 and when occasion arises, it can just as easily be detached therefrom.

The armature shaft is, of course, hollow, and carries a pin 19, the inner end of which is connected with the insulated end of the primary winding of the armature, shown diagrammatically at 20; the secondary windin being likewise indicated diagrammatica 1y at 21. The bolt or pin 19 does not make electrical contact with the shaft 1 or the plate 2; but it passes through the plate 2 and may serve as the means for securing the plate and the armature shaft together in'rigid relation. For this purpose the inner end of the bolt may suitably engage an insulated part carried b the armature, so that the bolt can be ma e fast. The outer end of the bolt will engage the member 3;

which will also be kept out of electrical con- I tact with the plate 2 by means of a plate of insulation 22. Of course, the contact 5 and member 6 will be grounded, and so will that terminal of the primary winding 20 which is oIpIposite to the end connected to the pin 1. ence, when the contacts 4 and 5 are together, the armature circuit will be completed, but when the contact 5 is moved away from the contact 4 the circuit will be broken. As illustrated in Figure 1, the plate 2 may have a boss thereon to fit into the hollow armature shaft 1; and this boss ma be splined to the shaft 1, to prevent the plate 2 from rotating thereon.

The cam element 10 is provided with two actuating portions 12, but obviously there may be only one portion or a greater number of ortions than two, if desired. We prefer to form the inside surface of the element 10 by first making the surface perfectly circular or cylindrical all around, and then cutting it out between the portions 12 at each side on the arc of a circle that has the same radius of curvature as the portions 12. By inspecting Figure 2 one can see clearly just how the operation mentioned is performed. The portions 12 will have the same radius of curvature and the same center of curvature, which will be the axial center of the element 10; but the portions of-the element 10 between the portions 12 will have centers of curvature which are located a very slight distance to each side (in practice about one millimeter) of the center of curvature Hence, the inside surface of the element or rin 10 will be in the form of practically a sing e smooth curve that is continuous and concave throughout; and will have, in effect, the general shape of a circle which is flattened slightly at diametrically opposite points to provide the actuating portions.

As can be plainly seen, these rtions 12 do not present extremities whic l are abrupt with respect to the portions of the inside surface of the element 10 between them; but the portions 12 to all intents and purposes, merge radually with the remaini portions 0 the inside contour of the ring 10 so that the rin 1O encircling the contacts 4 and 5 W11 present a smooth track upon which the fiber body 9 may run in light and easy frictional engagement. That is to say, the fiber insert 9 may stay continuously against the inner face or edge of the ring 10 during the whole of each revolution of the armature, regardless of speed; and the fric-' tional enga ment referred to may exist not only when t e fiber body 9 is running on one of the portions 12, but also for the whole extent of each arc along the inside face or ed the ring between the portions 12.

- This CmZStIllCtlOIl obviates all possibility of any part of the interrupter sustaining jars or shocks when in operation, and affords an advantage which is of decided importance when a magneto carrying our improved timer is employed on high speed engines for automobiles and aeroplanes. Obviously, if the actuating portions 12 were in the form of well-marked, lnward-extending cam projections, causing the inner edge of the ring 10 to present a curve having definite re-entrant portions, the elimination of jars and shocks could not be entirely secured, and even running would not result; for the reason that the fiber bod 9, when the timer is working at high spee on striking a sharp cam projection on the inside of the ring 10, would be apt to jump and vibrate or flutter, and thus produce chattering of the contacts 4 and 5, and seriously impair the function of the parts. We eliminate this objection by mak ing the actuating portions 12, not in the shape of inward extending projections, but merely as sections of the inside curve of the element 10; this curve, as stated above, being concave throughout; but with the portions between the portions 12 each having its center of curvature to one side of the common center of curvature of the actuating portions; or axial center of the element 10.

The interior contour of the cam element 10 may therefore be regarded as having substantially the shape 0 an ellipse, with the actuatin portions 12 adjacent the opposite ends of t e shorter axis; these portions being .thus located somewhat closer to the axis one piece. It is channel-shaped in cross section; that is to say, the sides are bent at an angle to provide reinforcing the ribs or flanges; and the end 23 where the fiber bod 9 is located is bent over so as to make wit the adjacent ends of the lateral ribs or flanges a seat for this body. The two pairs of springs 8 diverge from the block 7, and at t eir outer ends are secured to the ad cent ends of the member 6; this member ing located between the outer ends of the two pairs of springs 8.

Of the springs 8, which are secured. to the end of the member 6 carryin the contact 5, the inner spring may exten out from the block 7 far enough to be fiush with the extremity of the member 6. Over it, and beand the block in question. The outer spring 8 .of this pair may have its end arran ed so that it merely presses upon the mom 1 6 adjacent the contact 5, and it may be provided with a fiber cushion or seat. Of the other or remainin pair of s rings 8, the inner spring exten towards e end of the member 6 remote from the end carrying the contact 5, and may abut at its extremity against the fiber body 9. This spring may be substantially straight; but the remaining sprin of the other pair is curved, ex tendin rom the back or outside of the block to a point adjacent the fiber 9, where it is engaged by a screw 24. This Screw 24 is mounted in an angle piece, which isfixed to the bent-over end 23 of the member 6, by a rivet pasing through-the fiber body 9; and a similar rivet may pass through the fiber body 9 and engage the ad- 'acent extremities of the lateral ribs or anges of the member 6.

Reference being bad to Figures 4, 5 and 7, the lowermost spring 8 secured to the end 23 of the member 6, being curved and bent to a marked extent, is under considerable stress and has a ronounced effect in resisting movement of t e member 6 to separate contacts 4 and 5, and in bringing these contacts together. The spring immediately above this spring; that is, the upper spring of the lower pair, and the lower spring of the upper pair, may be regarded as supportin springs.

The particular relation of the lower-most spring 8 and the upper-most spring 8, in Figures 4, 5 and 7 to the remaining springs 8; as shown and described herein; is not specified in the claims of this application. but is recited in the claims of our co-pending application, Serial No. 363014, filed March 3, 1920.

By the use ofsprings to hold the member 6, instead of a ivot for mounting this lever,

curacy and reliability at high speeds, the

absence of the need for lubricant further increases the practical merit of our invention.

We also wish to call attention here to the fact that the use of the sprin s or elements 8, providing yielding means or supporting the member 6, and enabling us to d spense with a pivot for the member 6; maintains the faces of the contacts 4 and 5 in the best operative relation. If a pivot had to be employed and the member 6 mounted thereon, this member could not engage the pivot tightly enough to eliminate movement of the member in such a maner'that it at times would not have both ends the same distance from the face of the plate 2. In other words, in order to enable the member 6 to be moved b the cam portions 12, the member would ave to be loose enough on its pivot, and this looseness might at times permit the member 6 to wabble;-so that one of its ends would be closer to the plate 2 than the other; especially after the pivot and the member 6 become much worn with I constant use. The springs 8 make impossible such wabbling movement, and hold the member 6 always in proper position as regards the plate 2. In order to get best results these springs 8 must of course be of some breadth relative to their thickness and we may of course use as many of these springs as are required.

We make the springs 8 of such strength that they will always hold the contacts 4 and 5 tightly against each other; except, of course, when the contacts are positively moved apart by the cam portions 12. When the plate 2. is rotating at high speed the centrifugal force to which the member 6 is subjected may become very great; and if it could take effect by movlng the member 6 out of its true position the contacts 4 and 5 might become separated, thus deranging or entirely sus ending the function of the interrupter. ut by glancing at the drawings, one can see that the member 6 is of greater mass towards the end car ing the body 9 than at the other end.. once when the controller is operating and centrifugal force comes into play, this force will predominate at the end carrying the fiber member, and the result will be that centrifugal action will co-operate with the springs -in holding the contacts together; and the higher the speed the more will this be the case. This fact further contributes to the success of our invention on high s eed engines and insures a proper closing 0 the circuit whenever the same has been 0 ned.

The part 11 has an annular shoul er 25 the lever 30.

therein a ainst which the element 10 is disposed. his part 11 not only supports the ring 10, but also serves as a casing for the interrupter, and can be closed by a cap 26, which can be taken off and put on at will. This ca' is held on by means of a spring catch 2 that is rotatably mounted on a post 28, made fast to the magneto framework below the timer or interrupter. When the cap 26 is to be taken off, the catch 27 is merely pushed to one side on the post 28, as an axis. The part 11 also has outward extending projections or arms 29 to enable the part, together with the cam element 10 fixed therein to be rotated and shifted, and thus advance or retard the ignition.

The part 11 may carry nothing but the cam element 10, but if desired we may also mount thereon an additional interrupter lever 30 to adapt our interrupter mechanism to be used for dual ignition; that is to say, for both magneto ignition and battery ignition, the battery being used in the usual way for starting purposes. To this end the top of the part 11 is cutor machined out so as to permit the lever 30 to be pivotally mounted between lugs or projections 31, and disposed in a recess 32, which extends through the top of the part 11 from the outside to the inside of same. This lever 30 is engaged by a resilient element 33, fixed to the outside of the part 11 and acting to press the lever 30 downward. On this lower side the lever has a cam projection with a fiber insert similar to the body 9; and the plate 2 will be in the same transverse plane as the lever 30, and will have one or more portions of its edge shaped as indicated at 34, so that'the lever 30 can be properly actuated. That one of the adjusting arms 29 which is located adjacent the free end of the lever 30 will be thickened in proximity to the part 11, and

will serve to carrya contact in the form of an adjustable screw 35. This contact screw will pass through the said arm 29 from bottom to top, and its upper end will form a contact to 00-0 rate with the free'end of W llen a part 34 of the plate 2 engages the cam projection on the lever 30, the lever 30 will drop and make contact with thescrew 35; and the battery circuit thus be closed. At other times the lever and upper end of the screw 35 will be separated.

The screw 35 is insulated from the part 11, preferably by means of a fiber bushing 36 which extends entirely through the arm 29 carr ing the screw 35. Further, to the forwar face of the said arm 29 will be fixed a bracket 37, which will be kept out of electrical contact with the said arm 29 by means of an insulatin plate 38 arranged between the arm 29 am? the bracket. A screw will secure the bracket in place, and this screw must also be provided with insulation 40 between the head thereof and the bracket 37, so that there .will be no electrical connection between the bracket and the art 11. The insulation 40 will be between t e head of the screw 39 and the bracket as above stated, and the hole through the bracket may be larger than the diameter of the screw for the same pur ose. The bracket will also carry a bin ing post 41, and the top of the bracket will extend over the top of the arm 29 carrying it, and the upper end of the screw 35 will ass through it and electrically engage it. screw 42 ma likewise en ge the top of the bracket, and have threade connection with the top of the aforesaid arm 29 and be insulated from the bracket in the same way as the screw 40. This screw enga es a cover to be presently described, for the ever 30.

When this construction is employed, one terminal of the primary coil of the battery ignition circuit will be attached to the binding post 41, and the other terminal of the primary battery circuit will be grounded. 0 start upon battery ignition, the rotation of the armature shaft 1 will permit the lever 30 to make contact with the bolt and as the lever 33 isthus grounded, the primary battery circuit will thus be closed. This will enable high tension current to be generated in the secondar battery circuit and produce the necessary igh tension spark.

The plate 2 with edge ortions 34 has the general contour of an el ipse, like the ring 10; and may be used on battery circuits at high speeds with the same mode of operation, much the same certainty and lack ofl vibration as the magneto circuit controller. Hence the batte ignition system may sometimes be used azer starting in place of the magneto system, as in case of accident to the latter. The fibre body 9 will always engage the edge of the plate 2, at any speed, because the plate has the outline of a smooth curve, without any well marked or abrupt projec tions.

The actuating portions 12 of the cam element- 10 are about 45 degrees in length, and begin at points about 45 degrees past the top and bottom points of the cam element. When the plate 2 is rotating clockwise, the fiber body 9 will strike the advance points 13 of each cam element at just about the instant when the member 3 and block 7 are passing by the ends of a horizontal diameter throu h the cam ring 10, with the parts in the re ative positions shown in Figure 5. At this time the armature of the magneto will also be passing through mid position between the pole pieces (not shown) of the magneto on which the interrupter is employed.

With the above construction of our timer or interru ter the desired results ma be secured, whether the magneto rotates c ockwise or counter-clockwise. If clockwise, the parts of the timer are arranged as shown in igures 4 and 5 and operate as above set forth; but if the opposite direction of rotation is to be taken, the various parts must be arranged in a manner that is detailed in the paragraphs that now follow.

The cam element 10 is secured to the tubular part 11 by means of screws which pass through'the part 11 at the top and bottom at the ends of a vertical diameter through the same. One of these screws is indicated in broken lines in Figure 2. These screws permit the cam element 10 to be taken out. For anti-clockwise rotation these screws are loosened and the cam ele ment 10 pushed out of the tubular part 11, and then revolved about a vertical line so as to carry the cam actuating part 12 at the right of the cam ring, as shown in Figure 2, and above the line of the arms 29, over to the left; and the other actuating portion 12 similarly over to the right. The ring is then replaced in the tubular part 1-1 and secured so that now the portion 12 in the upper half of this ring will be located at the left of the interrupter mechanism, and the portion 12 in the lower half of the ring will be located at the right, as will be understood. If, now, the plate 2 were simply rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the fiber body 9 would strike the advance points 13 a little too late in the cycle of operation. Consequently, the position of the member 6 and the screw 4 must be correspondingly altered. For this purpose the springs 8 are detached from the block 7, to which they are held by screws; and the screw 4 is removed from the member 3 and reversed; that is to say, it is inserted into the member 3 from the top so as to make the point 5 project from the bottom; the arts being taken in the position shown in igure 4. The member 6 and the springs 8 are then turned around a horizontal axis through the center of this figure to carry the point 5 into proper position with respect to the contact 4 and to locate the fiber body 9 at the upper edge of the plate 2; and the s rings 8 again made fast to the block 7. he plate, remaining fast to the armature shaft 1 in the same relative position as before, will now, when rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, carry the body 9 to the advance points 13 of each cam portion 12 at the right instant to produce correct ignition.

In practice the springs 8 may be laminated, to enable them to act with greater strength on the member 6.

The timer, as shown in the first five figures of the drawings, and described above, can be employed for ignition on an engine having from one to six cylinders, simply by gearing the magneto so that the armature and 8 which illustrate a timer that is adapted' for an 8 or 12 cylinder en ine. In this construction the late 2 on t e armature shaft will be provi ed with a member 3 of such size as to enable it to accommodate two contact screws 4 and 4", placed side by side; and the block 7 will likewise be bi enough to enable it to support two movab e contact bearing members 6* and 6, which will likewise be placed side by side in coincident positions. There will thus be two fixed contacts and two movable contacts; each of which movable contacts cooperates with one of the fixed contacts; and there will also be two cam elements-10 and 10 spaced axially apart on the inside of the part 11. The actuating portions 12' and 12 of these cam elements, however, will not coincide, but will be s aced ninety degrees apart,- as indicated in Figures 7 and 8; and will belonger than in Figures 2 and 5.

As shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8, the actuating portions of each cam element will overlap sllghtly at their ends upon the ends of the actuating portions of the other cam element; that is to say, when one views the parts in the relative positions shown in Figures 7 and 8, the advance ends 13 of the actuating portions 12 of the outer cam element 10 will not coincide'with the trailing or rear ends 14 of the actuating portions 12 of the inner cam element 10*. This arrangement is for the purpose of preventing the two pairs of contacts from ever being in closed-circuit position or full open-circuit position at one and the same instant; for the roper operation of this multiple timer requlres that the different pairs of contacts should assume closed-circuit position, and open-circuit position in succession, and that when the contacts of one air come together, they should separate ful y .before the other pair of contacts come together; and should not again come together until the other pair of contacts has again separated.

I The mode of operation of this type of interrupter is best explained by reference to Figure 8, portraying the two cam elements and the two sets of contacts in a single plane; with the contacts 4 and 5 just separated to open the primary circuit and the contacts 4" and 5 just about to come together. By considering the portion 12" of the element 10 to the left of the broken line representing the vertical at the right of Figure 8 one can;see that the advance end 13 is a little in front of this line; while the trailing end 14* of the portion '12 to the right of a similar line through the element 10 at the left of Figure 8 is a little past this line, when the direction of rotation is taken as clockwise. If, then the member 6" has just moved its fibre body 9 into engagement with this actuatin portion 12, the contacts 4 and 5' wil be separated; and the contacts 4" and 5 will be ready to come together, The contacts 4" and 5', further, will remain separated until the fiber body 9 carried by the member 6" reaches the point 14' of this portion 12; at which point the contacts 4" and 5 will a ain assume closedcircuit position. But t e other contacts 4" and 5 will, during the time that the contact 'member 6 is held 0 n by this actuating portion 12, be close for the reason that the fibre body 9 carried by the member 6" will at this time be rotating on a portion of the cam ring 10 which is between the aforesaid point 14" of the above-mentioned actuating ortion 12 on the cam element 10, and t e advance end 13 of the next actuating portion 12" of the cam element 10". Further, before the member 6 reaches the point 14" on the aforesaid portion 12 so that the contacts 4 and 5 may close, the member 6" will carry its fiber body 9 to and beyond the point 13" on the aforesaid next actuating portion 12*; hence the two contacts 4 and 5 will open. This operation will be repeated four times in each revolution; each pair of contacts closing and then opening in alternation, and neither closing before the other is opened, or opening before the other is closed.

We may also use the timer construction shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 on a four-cylinder engine; by turning the cam elements so that their actuating portions coincide, or are in alignment the same as the contacts 4* and 4 and members 6*and 6". Both members 6 and 6 will then be actuated together and one pair or contacts will always be in proper working order, so that if the other pair should become damaged or fouled,

the interrupter would still operate'satisfactorily.

When the lever 30 and the other parts for battery ignition are mounted on the part 11, I may provide for this lever a cover 45 held to one arm 29 by the screw 42 at one end, and to the other arm 29 by a similar screw 46. This cover will protect the lever 30,,and I may provide this cover with athe lever 80, contact screw-35 and cover 45 When no, provision is to be made for battery i ition. This method of constructing the iameter is, in effect, indicated in Figures 6 and 7.

When the part 11 is mounted on the triangle iece 16, its movement by the arms 29 to adjust the interru ter will be limited b a shortscrew 48 on t e triangle piece whic projects into a notch in the ad acent edge of the part 11. I

The cam elements in Figures'6 and 7 are secured in osition by'means of crews at the top and bottom points of the tubular element 11, the same as the cam element in Fi res 2 and 5. When one desires to cause this interrupter with two members 6" and 6 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, the position of the rings is chan ed and the location of the contacts 4'- and 4 5 and 5", and members 6" and 6 is likewise altered in the same manner as is followed when the parts of the timer mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 5" inclusive are re-arranged for counter-clockwise rotation.

Obviously the resilient elements or springs 8 act jointly with the cam element 10, in the interrupter of Figure 5; or with their associated cam element when the multiple interrupter is used; to give the fixed and movable contacts their relative movement when the.

armature shaft rotates; and the member 3 and block 7 constitute means for mounting the contacts so as to make possible the operation of the interrupter in the reverse direction; that is, the springs 8 act as means for moving the contacts together, and the. cam element as means for separating the same; and the springs 8 and the cam element thus constitute means for actuating the contacts in the manner required.

The cap 26, which is of insulation, mayalso have a spring 49 inside to press against the end of the pin 19. This spring leads to a bindin post 50, b which the armature can be sfiort-circuite around the contacts 4 and 5, to ground, if desired.

Having described our invention, what we believe to be new, and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows 1. In a circuit controller, an annular cam element provided with actuating portions on its inner face, said portions and the remainder of the inner face of the cam element being of smooth concave curvature throughout; said portions and the remainder of the inner face of the cam element merging gradually into one another.

2. A circuit controller embracing a pair of contacts, and means for causing sald contacts to have relative movement, said means including an annular cam element surrounding said contacts and having on its inside face the contour of an ellipse, and actuating porsaid throughout, and the actuatin tions ad'a'cent the ends of the shorter axis of said e lipse, the inside face of said element being concave throughout. 3. The combination of a rotatable 'plate carrying a fixed and a movable contact-bearing member, an annular cam element encircllng said members to actuate the movable member, means for supporting said element, and a contact lever carried by said means, plate having a portion to operate said lever.

4. A circuit controller embracing a pair of contacts, a member for enablin one of said contacts to be movably mounte with res ect to the other, and a camelement encirc 'ng saidcontacts and having actuating ortions on its inner face, said actuating portlons and the remainder of the inner face of-said' element being of smooth concave. curvature portions merging gradually with the remainder of the inner face of the element, whereby the member may have proper engagement with said element at all speeds of operation.

5. A circuit controller embracing a pair of contacts, a member for enablin one of said contacts to be movably mounte with res ect to the other, and a camelement encirc ing said contacts and having actuating portions on its inner face, said actuating portions and the remainder of the inner face of said element being of smooth concave curvature throughout and the actuating portions merging gradually with the remainder of the inner face of the element, the actuating portions and the remainder of the inside of the element being elliptical in contour, whereby the member may have proper engagement with said element at all speeds of operation.

6. The combination of a rotatable plate carrying a fixed and a movable contactbearing member, an annular cam element encircling said members to actuate the movable member, means for supporting said element, a contact lever carried by said means, said plate having a portion to operate said lever, and a cover for said lever on said supporting means.

7. The combination of a cam element, means for supporting said element, said element and said means having such shape that the relative positions of said element and said means can be changed, a relatively fixed contact and a member bearing same, said contact being reversible with respect to said member, a relatively movable member bearing a co-operating contact, means for .yieldably carrying said movable member, and a rotatable plate to which the fixed member and the last named means are secured, the last-named means and the movable member being capable of being rearranged with respect to theplate, whereby the cam element and the contacts can be adapted for reverse operation.

8. In a circuit controller, an. annular cam element having an inside surface of smooth disk and in electrical connection therewith,

substantially parallel resilient conductor arms connected to said'projection, normally extending substantially perpendicular to said diameter of the disk and movable in a plflneparallel to the adjacent surface of said disk, a conducting member carried by and connecting the free ends of said arms, a movable contact terminal supported by the conduct-in member and extending substantially in a inement with the other terminal, and an insulated projection carried by the conducting member designed to be engaged by suitable means when the disk rotates, for moving the movable contact terminal away from the other terminal.

ed at New York, in the county of New Si Yorl and State of New York this 13th day of July A. D. 1917. v

HERMAN SCHMID. GOTTLOB FUEGEL. 

